The sentiment “If solely I had identified then what I do know now” permeates the human expertise. Repeatedly, in counseling and on the whole dialog, I hear some variation of the theme of remorse over one’s previous. This isn’t referring to specific regrets however a normal remorse that one’s previous was wasted, broken, or an entire loss. The feedback are inclined to fall into one among three broad classes: remorse that sin tainted one’s previous, that struggling stole all or a good portion of 1’s previous, or that one’s previous was wasted in another means. With out dismissing the true experiences of life, we have to encourage each other to redeem our pasts, not remorse them.
Earlier than diving into every of the three classes above, I wish to lay some groundwork that’s broadly relevant to the life of each Christian. First, we’re influenced by our previous, however our previous doesn’t decide or outline us. Second, God is within the behavior of making magnificence from ashes, He builds towers from trash heaps. He’s the God of redemption. No particular person’s previous can’t be redeemed. Third, God is sovereign, even over our previous. There’s nothing from our previous that He didn’t learn about or plan. Nothing occurs to us by chance. God makes use of the whole lot within the lives of believers on goal, for a goal. This isn’t all the time simple to see, imagine, or really feel, however it’s true. The reality of God’s sovereignty offers hope for these regretting their previous and is the bedrock on which redemption is feasible.
Remorse Over a Sinful Previous
Probably the most outstanding class of remorse I encounter within the counseling room is individuals who really feel like their previous was ruined or wasted by their sin. Scripture does name us to weep and mourn over our sin (James 4:7-10). However we shouldn’t be overwhelmed by disgrace over our previous sin, irrespective of how deep it was or how lengthy we have been steeped in it. The identical passage in James calls us to motion relating to our sin. We’re instructed to weep and mourn our sin, flip away from it, resist Devil, humble ourselves, and draw close to to God. The top result’s that God will exult us. He lifts us up; He doesn’t solid us down or depart us downcast.
Take into consideration all of the examples of individuals in Scripture who dedicated heinous sins or spent massive quantities of their lives in sinful pursuits: David dedicated sexual sin and homicide (2 Sam. 11). Paul stood by and affirmed the martyrdom of Christians (Acts 22:20). Peter denied Jesus and after being restored went on to forsake the gospel earlier than being confronted by Paul (Matt. 26:69-75; Luke 22:55-62; Mark 14:66-72; John 18:16-27; Gal. 2:11-14). Rahab made her dwelling as a prostitute (Josh. 2). The Samaritan lady on the effectively had a string of damaged marriages and was dwelling in sexual sin when Jesus met her (John 4:1-42).
These individuals might have thought of themselves unworthy of God—ineffective for work in His Kingdom. However God redeems each’s complete life. He provides them to His household—in some instances (Rahab and David), straight in line to His solely begotten Son (Matt. 1:5-6). He restores some to management in ministry. He used all of them to convey Him glory.
Remorse Over a Previous of Struggling
Some look again on their lives and really feel like vital parts have been robbed by struggling. For some, this took the form of extreme bodily struggling. Illness and incapacity can devour an individual’s life for years, sapping up all time, power, ideas, and assets. It may well depart them asking, “What was the purpose, God? I might have completed a lot extra for you if I have been wholesome!”
Others face persecution, isolation, and even imprisonment that seemingly robs years or many years of their lives. Once more, the temptation involves query God and His functions.
Scripture shouldn’t be silent about such experiences. Joseph spent a few of the most adolescence of his life in slavery and jail (Gen. 37-50). The lady with the difficulty of blood suffered together with her ailment for twelve years and spent all her cash attempting to be healed by physicians (Luke 8:43-48). God was glorified by her therapeutic, and the truth that she had suffered so lengthy and sought out each type of care she might discover heightened the miracle Jesus carried out. We don’t know all of the issues God labored in Joseph’s life throughout his imprisonment and slavery, however we do know that he was extra sanctified by the expertise. It takes quite a lot of godliness to look into the faces of those that bought you into slavery and say, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good” (Gen. 50:20).
Remorse Over a Previous that Appears Wasted
The third class of remorse is usually probably the most puzzling. Possibly it’s due to the big range of causes individuals give for this type of remorse, or perhaps it’s as a result of some individuals on this class have had comparatively good pasts. There are actually those that fall into this class who spent years of their lives in pointlessly wasteful methods. Laziness and meaningless pursuits abound amongst mankind. Others poured themselves into work with nice effort and goal however for pursuits aside from the glory of God. Materialism, wealth, energy, and fame may need been the core of their endeavors, and now they appear again on it as time wasted. Nonetheless others specific frustration over their pasts as a result of they have been spent doing work that now appears much less worthwhile or vital to them. I encounter this idea most with individuals who make a mid-career shift into vocational ministry. Many labored onerous, offered for his or her households, worshiped, and served within the church, however didn’t spend their lives in vocational ministry. Trying again, they see their time as wasted.
Take into account the lifetime of Moses. He was forty when he left Egypt for the primary time, then spent one other forty years in obscurity as a herdsman in Midian. He was about 80 when he was referred to as by God to rescue Israel from Egypt (Exod. 7:7)! Was that lifetime wasted?
A subset of this class is those that come to saving religion later in life. They appear again on their time pre-Christ with nice remorse. They are often envious of those that grew up within the church, wishing they’d identified Jesus all alongside. They want they’d a deeper information of God’s Phrase and will have spent these younger “mind sponge” years memorizing the Bible as an alternative of sports activities stats or film quotes. But when God’s sovereignty shines by on something, it’s actually the salvation of His kids. God is aware of exactly when is greatest so that you can put your religion in Him. He ordained that day earlier than the inspiration of the world (Eph. 1:4).
Redeeming Your Previous
The ebook of Ecclesiastes stands out as an exemplar for individuals who wrestle with the query of a wasted previous. “The Preacher” commonly notes how futile all his pursuits have been: “Vainness of vanities! All is self-importance” (1:2). He was the wisest man to inhabit this planet other than Jesus, and for a lot of his life, he squandered that knowledge. He pursued each worldly pleasure he might fathom, sought out information, amassed immeasurable wealth, and declared all of it self-importance. However when he involves the tip of his life, Solomon writes this abstract recommendation, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: concern God and hold His commandments, as a result of this is applicable to each particular person. For God will convey each act to judgment, the whole lot which is hidden, whether or not it’s good or evil” (Eccles. 12:13-14).
The whole lot that occurs in life is beneath God’s sovereign rule and could have everlasting ramifications. Whether or not it’s illness, struggling, or seemingly pointless pursuits, acknowledge that God has introduced you thru all of it to mould and form you into the particular person you’re immediately and the particular person you’re changing into. Christians are promised that each one that comes our means will make us extra like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-30). So don’t look in your previous with disdain, disapproval, or despair. Replicate on it and contemplate how God has grown and ready you for the place you’re immediately. Maybe your sinful pursuits have given you a ardour for serving to others flip away from them. Your struggling has possible taught you persistence and given you compassion for others that suffer. Possibly some side of your coaching or work expertise shall be helpful within the ministry God is asking you to. And always remember the relationships which were fashioned over your lifetime. Every of them is uniquely formed by God, with you as an integral part.
When you find yourself tempted to remorse your previous, bear in mind these truths and testimonies from Scripture and redeem your previous. Redeem it by thanking God for the work He has completed in you thru your previous life. Redeem it by urgent ahead in life, fearing God, and preserving His commandments.
Questions for Reflection
- In the event you’ve ever regretted your previous, how do these truths have an effect on your perspective on the life God has given you?
- How do you see your previous influencing you immediately in ways in which serve others and honor God?
- What different examples from Scripture come to thoughts of God redeeming somebody’s seemingly misplaced previous?
Sources for Additional Progress
Placing Your Previous in Its Place by Steve Viars
A Painful Previous: Therapeutic and Shifting Ahead by Lauren Whitman
